<p>Lukester - so sorry to hear about your brother. I think I’m going to read your post to our kids. Every summer I hear myself giving them the same lectures about how dangerous the sun can be. </p>
<p>In describing yourself, you could easily be describing S2. We all burn, but he and D2 are the fairest, and burn most easily. The rest of us are pretty much resigned to being sensible, but I know it bugs him. Not only does he hate be pestered about wearing rashguards and hats all summer, but many of his classmates are hispanic and italian, and he thinks he stands out like a sore thumb. He really doesn’t, but is a teenager and self-conscious. </p>
<p>I don’t even really trust sunscreen completely. I just try to keep them out of the midday sun as much as possible. The worst burn he ever got in his entire life was at about age 8, at an afternoon ‘nature camp.’ The counselors had them walk along a local sand spit at low tide, and for god knows what reason, told the boys they had to take their shirts off (afraid they’d get a bit of water on their play clothes??). He was coated in sunscreen everywhere BUT under his clothes. By the next day his entire back was completely blistered and the color of raspberries. The counselor couldn’t have cared less. What’s even more frustrating is that the camp was run by the Cold Spring Harbor Labs – one of the world’s leading cancer research centers. You’d think their staff would have known better.</p>